Man Arrested for Modifying Linky Meters to Fraudulently Lower Electricity Bills
A man in his thirties, suspected of modifying hundreds of Linky meters across France, was arrested in Valenciennes for allegedly promising customers a reduction of 50 to 70% on their electricity bills. The gendarmerie reported that he was apprehended on September 14 while traveling for an 'intervention'. The suspect, who worked as a salesman and resided in Seine-et-Marne, was identified by the cybercrime unit of the gendarmerie after his widely recognized Snapchat profile advertised his services openly.
The Mechanics of Fraud: How the Scheme Worked
For a fee ranging from 200 to 400 euros, the suspect would conduct manipulations on the Linky meters, which resulted in inaccurate readings that underreported electricity consumption. Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Audon described the manipulation as 'fairly simple,' but warned that it involved dangerous components such as connectors and cables. Investigators believe the man had been operating this scheme since late 2022. The gendarmerie, with support from Enedis, the electricity network manager, conducted checks on the modified meters to assess the extent of the fraud.
Legal Consequences and the Rise of Meter Fraud
The suspect is set to appear in the Valenciennes Criminal Court on February 4, 2025, facing charges including aggravated theft and damage to an automatic data processing system, which poses risks to public safety. Enedis has reported a notable increase in electricity meter fraud linked to social media promotions, emphasizing that such actions constitute theft and are illegal. The company has filed a complaint and is taking steps to recover damages, although the exact amount remains undisclosed.
